foesteb



(No Model.)

- P. E. PORSTER.

THREAD MOSAIC.

Patented Sept.

j mm .wnmzaimnmmun es 6 es;

NITED" -STAT4ES j PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND E. IORSTER, on NEW YORK, N, Y.

THREAD-MOSAlC.

SPECIFICATION formingmart. of Letters Hatent No. 284,406, dated September 4, 1883.

Application filed December 19, 1882. i (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FERDINAND E. FoRsTER, of New York city, inthe county and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements relating to Thread-Mosaics, of which the following is aspecification.

I designate as threadmosaics ornaments of Worsted or otherthreads produced by stretching yarns or threads inthe form of a more or less firm bunch or rope, bound around and cut off in short lengths. The yarns are of different colors, and so arranged as to present.

ornamental figures on the out ends.

Y The invention relates to means for facilitating the manufacture of such ornaments. I provide a sufficient number of threads or yarns,

. white, black, and of various hues and shades,

way between the two outer plates.

according to the figure to be produced. These being mounted each on a separate spool or other'carrying device, so as to require a mod erate tension to draw off the several yarns,

they are threaded separatelythrough holes in four perforated plates in the required order, and a weight attached to each separately. For the succeedingoperation the plates are held in parallel planes, the extremes of the series at a considerable distance apart and the two intermediate plates close together, about half I will describe the plates as heldhorizontally one above, the other, and I prefer for obvious reasons to so hold them. Thus conditioned, a smooth string or wire is passed lightly around the series and a gentle tension put on it, tending to draw the several yarns together. Then the two middle plates are moved steadily apart, the uppermost being moved up nearly or quite into contact with the upper and the other beyoke with asmooth interior is applied in two halves, one from each side, and united to form A a small ring just sufficient to hold the yarns nearly. or quitein contact. This is applied at the point in the middle where the yarns have beentightly bunched together, and is moved gradually upward and downward, correspondingly drawing theconverging yarnstogether. While this movement is progressing theyarns are tied firmly at short distances apart by hand or machinery. After the greater portion of the length between the two outer plates has been thus tiedtogether, the portions of threads thus bunched and tiedmay be drawn outward and tied by hand or machinery,.the several.

order. Thus the work may continue indefi-' nitely, or so long asjthe several yarns hold out. 'When a spool is exhausted, the attendant may tie onto the end or otherwise attach a fresh yarn of the same color, and the work may continue. The rope or extended firm collection of the yarns is out up into short lengths, either while this operation of tying is going on or at some subsequent period, thus ornaments, which may be cemented or other wise attached in any desired position on carriage-linings or other article which it is intended to decorate.

producing a great number of small rosettes or The accompanying drawings form a part of A this specification, and represent what I considerthe best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partlyin section, showing in strong lines the. condition after the yarns have been threaded through the several holes andweighted, and before the intermediate plates have been shifted into the middle position. The dotted lines show the position 'of the intermediate plates after they have been shifted into the middle position. Fig. 2 showsthe same after the string or wire has been put around the whole mass of yarns between the intermediate plates and the inter- IOO Fig.5 is

weights, these weights being long and slender and peculiarly hookshaped to facilitate their attachment to theyarn. Fig.7 is aview,partly in section, quartering to Fig. 6. Fig. 8 represents a quantity of the material after it has been completely bunched and bound together. 1

Fig.9 is an edge view, and Fig. 9* aface View, showing one of the pieces after the bunch has been cut up into short lengths.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.-

A is a table or fixed support, having a sufficient aperture to allow the hooked wires or slender weights to depend therein at a little distance apart, as required by the plates.

A is an upright, supported by the table forming a portion of the rigid frame-work.

B B B 'B are horizontal plates, of brass or other suitable material, having thickly-set perforations b, the perforations in all these plates corresponding perfectly, so that when two or more are brought close .together needles or other guiding means conducting the several yarns may be extended at one operation through a number of the plates.

0 O are brackets, to which these plates are attached, and by which they are held at various elevations on the upright A by means of clamping-bolts a and thumb-nuts c.

D Dare slender weights, made of stout wire or other suitable heavy material, hook- I formed at their upper ends, and attached one I to each of a set of independent yarns or threads,

d, extending from spools above. (Not represented.)

E'is a yoke, made in two halves and connected by screws 6.

G G are slender straps, by which two or more parallel plates may be held together, and H are the bolts and nuts by which the parallel plates are confined to the several brackets O, as required in the several changes. Other fastenings may be substituted for these, if desired.

In operating the invention, the lower plate, B, is firmly clamped a little above the table A, and the plates B B B are brought close together in an elevated position and firmly clamped. Then, by any suitable guiding means, the several yarns d are successively extended or rove through the several holes, taking care to introduce the proper colors and shades in the right position. The position of these may be guided by previously picturing upon the uppermost plate. Needles or other suitable devices may be extended through the several holes I), to facilitate the rapid and correct passage of the several yarns d through the Fig. 4 is a plan Fig. 6 is an'.

same. After each yarn d has been rove through the proper hole in the three upper plates, B B B, they are extended downward through the lower plate, 13*, and rove through the corresponding hole therein. It is then attached to a weight, D, and left extended by the gravity of the weight, the gravity being resisted and the yarn held extended by a friction on the spool. (Not represented. Any suitable letoff means may be substituted for friction. It will be observed that the series of holes in the plates B is approximately circular; also, that there is a series of larger holes arranged at a little distance around the exterior. These larger holes may receive a coarser or different set of yarns, or the yarns in these holes may be of the same or finer material; but I prefer,

for economy of time, to extend ten or other.

attached to a single weight; but the weight should be considerably heavier. The condition now described is shown in the strong lines in Fig. 1. Next the intermediate plates,B B are shifted in position by moving, downward the brackets O, on which they are supported,

and are slackened apart a little by relaxing the bolts H. Next a smooth string or wire, I, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) is extended around the mass of yarns d between the plates B and B and the ends gently stretched to contract the mass. Now the plates 13 and 13 are slowly separated, the bolts II being taken out and the bracket 0 being lowered to allow this movement. In the separation of these plates, 13 is moved slowly upward and B is moved slowly downward. As the movement progresses a gentle tension imparted by the hands or otherwise to the string or wire I draws the mass of yarns d gradually closer and closer together. These movements progress until the several yarns are compacted solidly together by the tightening of the encircling means I, after which it is firmly and finally bound by a tie, j, of the same or of diiferent thread. The plate 13 is bound up by the straps G in close contact with the upper plate, 13, which latter does not. move throughout the whole operation. The plate 13 is lowered nearly or quite down to the plate B, and is there allowed to rest. 'N ext a ring or yoke, E, formed of two halves, with a circular and smooth interior, is applied upon the most contracted portion of the mass,

m and thetwo parts are secured togetherby screws e. This yoke E is moved slowly downward, and

the ties j applied at intervals of half an inch, more or less, and firmly fastened. When this work has been extended downward as far as practicable, it is moved upward over the mass which has been finished, and the same operation commenced on the yarns which converge from above. As this work progresses on the yarns from above the force is applied by hand or otherwise sufficient to overcome the resistance of the friction or other resisting force on the several spools, and to draw down the sev s E being correspondingly held, so as to compact the yarns together close above the several points or planes where they are being successively tied. This work may go on indefinitely so long as the yarns dhold out, and when the end of one of those leaves its respective spool an attendant may supply a fresh spool and attach the end of. the yarn thereon, thus allowing the operation to be continued. The compacted mass ofyarns are severed by a sharp instrument. A thin disk with a sharp edge, rapidly revolved, may be useful. I have in my experiments used a straight sharp knife. At some stage the yarns d below the lowermost tie, j, are cut, and the weights D are reserved to be similarly used in starting the operation at some subsequent period with a fresh set of yarns, arranged according to the same or a different pattern.

Modifications may be made in many of the details. The plates may be held and moved by different means. The yoke I may be equipped with means for temporary or permanent support. Means may be provided for drawing downward the compacted mass of yarns mechanically. In making short lengths only of the mosaic article, I prefer not to pass the several threads from spools, but to simply use short lengths of thread, tying a knot in the upper end of each, so that when the thread is drawn through the several. plates and the weight applied below the knot in the upper endwill be arrested against the uppermost plate. s

I claim as my invention- 1. The apparatus for manufacturingthread- 40 mosaic, composed of a table, A, and standard A, perforated plates carried on said standard A, and weights D, all combined and adapted to serve relatively to each other sub-- stantiallyasand for the purposes herein speci- 4,5 fied.

2. The perforated plates B B arranged intermediate between similar plates, B B, in combination with means, as H, for locking them together and separating them at will,

.and with means, as O c, for holding them in various positions relatively to the plates 13 B, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

3. The yoke E, made in halves secured together by suitable means, as e, in combination with the cord or wire I, and arranged as l shown relatively to perforated plates B B? B B", so as to hold the several threads in the re-, quired positions in the product, substantially as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at New York city, N, Y., this 15th day of December, 1882, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FERDINAND E. nonsrna.

Witnesses:

WM. 0. DEY, A. H. GENTNER. 

